MOCK EXPLORATION: DUNGEON EXPLORATION

[ultrapenumbramods]

So you've been going about your new lives as Pokemon for the past week... which you may or may not have gotten entirely used to by now, but at least it's not as bad as things were when you first woke up. You haven't really gotten many leads on why this happened or how to change back, outside of, perhaps, conversations with Kangaskhan and Wigglytuff... but even then, it was kind of vague and unhelpful, outside of the lead of these... "Mystery Dungeons."

And, as luck would have it, Wigglytuff and Kangaskhan seem to want you all to gather in the center of town! They say it's an opportunity for you all to get experience with Mystery Dungeons... and maybe a little bit of treasure on the side, too. Who knows, it might even give you answers! ...I mean, probably not, since you're in the tutorial dungeon phase, but hey. It's worth a shot, right?

So, when you arrive at the center of Pokemon Square, you'll find the familiar faces of Wigglytuff and Kangaskhan there, but also a distressed-looking Butterfree and Metapod. Kangaskhan is quietly comforting the two unfamiliar Pokemon, while Wigglytuff addresses you directly...

"Hey, friends! I figure since you're new and here under some pretty weird circumstances, you might wanna take care of this. See, Ms. Butterfree's kid Caterpie's gone missing, and since they're my friends, I want to help! They're pretty sure he's lost in a Mystery Dungeon, and since he hasn't been gone that long... it's probably pretty easy for some new people to take care of.

So, since you're probably gonna want to go through Mystery Dungeons to figure out what's happening with you friends, I figured this would be a good way to get you started! You're probably gonna want to split into four teams of five to deal with things. I'll answer some questions for you, and then I'll take you where we think the Mystery Dungeon is!"

Comments

[grantmeamiracle]

[MOMO's definitely with Natsuki on this one. She keeps close, while scanning the surroundings.]

What we might recognize from back home could be totally different here, too... We should still be careful. Those mushrooms look like fly agarics, and those are poisonous.

[... She grimaces as she takes another step.]

[ultrapenumbramods]

[It’s definitely squishy and gross! In fact, it’s the kind of mud that isn’t dangerous, but it’s viscous enough that it’s gonna slow you down as you’re walking. So it might make investigating slower than you’d like, but not impossible.]

[moonfang]

Yeuck. I think I'll stay up here, thanks.

[Yep, Zangetsu is still on Gongenzaka's back. Even though they're vaguely the same size.

Though he does jump down long enough to slash at the trees -- testing to see if he can cut a path through them]

[ultrapenumbramods]

[Well, you can actually cut a chunk out of them... but they grow back basically instantly, kind of like you’re cutting through a non-Newtonian fluid.]

[moonfang]

[That is unsettling.] Well, it was worth a shot.

[whatsmytalentagain]

[Rantaro's just following along here... By the way, as a ground type with an affinity for mud, how is the super squishy mud here gonna affect him?]

[ultrapenumbramods]

[Since he’s a Ground type, he’ll actually do reasonably well going through the mud! So there’s that.]

[whatsmytalentagain]

[Well, that's nice! In fact...]

Hey, Natsuki? You can ride on my back for a bit if you're having trouble with the mud.

[betheman]

[Yeesh. Well, they trudge on then.] Hmnn...we must be on guard regardless...does anyone see a particularly unique seeming path..?

[becauseyou]

W-What?! Why would I--?!

[ ...actually, yeah, there's no way she'll be able to get through all this mud with these legs. ]

...Fine.

[ And she reluctantly waddles over and climbs onto his back.

For what it's worth, she's incredibly light. ]

[whatsmytalentagain]

Hey, just trying to help out here.

[He'll kneel a bit so she can get on... Now Natsuki has a steed who doesn't mind the mud at all.] There ya go.

[Now he's gonna catch up with the others. Hey, maybe this ain't so bad after all. Now about that path...]

[moonfang]

Everything looks just about the same... and since tha damn trees regenerate, we can't even mark our path. We should just pick a path and jump in!

[grantmeamiracle]

It'll be harder to backtrack, but at least we won't be paralyzed with indecision that way... So, which path should we take?

[betheman]

A...auuuh...

[Why must you all not choose though...] Th..then...

We shall move this way! [he declares, trudging on with Zangetsu toward the nearest option.]

[whatsmytalentagain]

[He was trying to, but...]

Alright, then. Lead the way.

[Rantaro is bringing Natsuki along as he trots on right next to him. Just because he can move through easier doesn't mean he's leaving people behind.]

[becauseyou]

...I just hope we don't screw this up.

[ nooo natsuki don't say that you'll jinx it ]

[ultrapenumbramods]

[Well, there's a pretty clear path that leads you around the mushrooms, at least. That's good, right? Except... as you go through, you notice that the path narrows and narrows... and comes to an impenetrable wall of trees.

And there's a locked treasure chest there! Except instead of a place where you'd put a key in, there's a picture of a mushroom like the ones you saw as you walked through the mud.]

[whatsmytalentagain]

Huh...

[Rantaro walks over to the treasure chest and inspects the picture.]

Uh... Hey, guys? I think we might need one of those mushrooms we passed by.

[betheman]

...Mnnh...I, the man Gongenzaka, wonder if it can truly be that easy but..

[They look so poisonous...]

[becauseyou]

...Great, so now one of us has to go back!

[ also Natsuki assumes that those mushrooms might not be good for someone's health ]

[moonfang]

Ugh. You guys.

[Zangetsu hops down from Gon]

Look, I did some askin' around before we left. I'm apparently a steel type, which means I can't be poisoned. I'll go back and grab one. Gimme a sec.

[the angry little pawniard plods back to the mushrooms. He selects one and tries to cut it from the ground. Hopefully they don't grow back like the trees?]

[ultrapenumbramods]

[Nope! Whenever Zangetsu cuts the mushroom down, it stays cut and he can take the mushroom.

That's the good news. The bad news is that as Zangetsu cuts the mushroom from the ground, it produces a ton of spores, which... well, they're not poisonous. They are, however, paralytic, which is an entirely different thing in this universe...

Fortunately, paralysis works as it does in the mainline Pokemon games, so he can still move! It's just harder.]

[moonfang]

[as he grabs the mushroom between his two blades, he sees the spores, and sees them come to rest on his body with an oddly electric spark]

Oh you piece of shit fungus!!

[dkashdjhakd!! He growls as his muscles start locking up, making movement feel like turning rusty gears. They'll be waiting forever at this rate]

OI!! HELP.

[whatsmytalentagain]

Oh great... You might wanna hold on, Natsuki.

[Guess Rantaro is gonna go get the sword guy.]

[betheman]

Nmmn? Zangetsu?? ...What happened?

[He says as he walks over behind Rantaro to see what happened.]

....

[Ah.]